Ketchum was one of seven firms that pitched for the UK mandate, against Blue Rubicon, Cohn & Wolfe, Fishburn Hedges, Hanover, Waggener Edstrom and Weber Shandwick.

It is thought that Weber Shandwick will retain MasterCard's public affairs brief and the company's activity in Ireland. Kaper, a beneficiary of MasterCard's decision to move UK consumer projects out of Weber Shandwick last year, is also expected to continue supporting the brand.

Blue Rubicon, meanwhile, takes charge of a UK brief that includes corporate and consumer activity. An agency spokesperson declined to comment as this story went live.

MasterCard UK and Ireland comms head Neil Henderson declined to comment, but the company's website reveals that Blue Rubicon has been designated as its UK press office contact.

Henderson earlier told the Holmes Report that the UK corporate review is part of an overall rethink of MasterCard's public relations activity across Europe, which is being headed by European communications SVP Rose Beaumont.